Help the Hospices will join forces with more than 100 local hospices across the UK from the 7-13 October 2013 to raise the profile of hospice care. David Praill the CEO of Help the Hospices is asking communities to get involved:
“We are asking people to help by speaking out about the important role their local hospice plays and making sure that hospices have the support they need to reach more people.”
This year’s Hospice Care Week will focus on the growing need for hospice care. The theme highlights findings by the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care, which show that demand and need for hospice care will rise rapidly in the coming years.
There are many activities happening across the country and here is just a selection to look out for:
- Wakefield Hospice is highlighting its services using an online blog throughout the week, and well-known singer and presenter Jane McDonald will be getting involved too.
- Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton will be inviting pupils from 10 local schools into the hospice to take a tour of the facilities, meet patients and staff and find out more about how Compton Hospice is funded.
- St Andrews Hospice in Lanarkshire is running an ambassador programme for senior pupils at local school partners. The first challenge is to pilot a store competition for teams to maximise the income in one of the hospice shops.
- St Clare Hospice in Essex is using the week to promote its current volunteer drive through a befriending scheme.
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice in North Staffordshire is organising a ‘Bring a Pound’ day, with collections in supermarkets across the local area.
- The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted will be chairing a think tank with Lord Howard on Wednesday 9 October at 3-4pm.
- St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol will be ‘opening its doors’ through the world of Twitter, promoting all aspects of its care during a live tweeting session on Tuesday 8 October. The hospice will be using the hash tag #HospiceLive. Follow @stpetershospice
- Lewis-Manning Hospice in Poole, Dorset, is offering an open house and a free afternoon tea to members of the public on 11 October from 4-6pm.
Get involved
To find out more information about Hospice Care Week and access support materials, visit the website: www.hospicecareweek.org.uk or follow Help the Hospices on Twitter and tweet about the activities of your local hospice using the hash tag #HospiceCareWeek.
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